Tight Mind Monday: Quick Tips To Avoid Over-Trying In The Gym

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Doc Ali’s Tight Mind Monday 1-23-17: Over-Trying

Meet season is in full swing! For some of our Type-A athletes, as the pressure heats up the mind breaks down. When an athlete puts too much pressure on themselves it can lead to over-trying. As an athlete over-tries they become too tight physically and mentally which results in a less than stellar performance!

Here are some Tight Mind Tips to help deal with the over-trying monster.


1. Identify pressure thoughts and get them out of your head and on to a piece of paper. Many of these thoughts start with, “what if i”, “I have to”, “I need to”, or “i should”. Sometimes pressure thoughts revolve around not pleasing others such as “If I don’t hit my coach (parents, colleges) will be mad at me.” 

2. Create your MIT’s. M.I.T. stands for Most Important Things. Your MIT’s are the deeper reasons you do gymnastics and the real life lessons you are learning from your sport. These are not related to pressure filled outcomes, but instead are process lessons that apply to how you want to live your life outside of sport as well. These include: going all out, not holding back, having no regrets, being a leader for your team, having joy in all you do, and pushing through fear. 

3. Pick an MIT for your next meet and say that statement over and over again during the competition. Make that statement the “most important thing” you think about at the meet and commit to it 100%.

When you focus on your MIT’s and get your mind away from scores, places, awards, comparisons, and other outcomes, it frees you up to go all out and do what you know how to do. Be sure to let your coaches know what your MIT is for the next competition. You may find when you focus on that goal, it takes the pressure off of BOTH of you!

Alison Arnold Ph.D. has been a mental toughness consultant to USA Gymnastics since 1997. If you have questions or want more information about her work go to www.headgamesworld.com